royal-holloway-postgraduate-prospectus-2018

2018 Postgraduate prospectus Find us For directions to our Egham and London campus by road, train, bus, air and foot royalholloway.ac.uk/directions M25 Take a virtual tour of our campus royalholloway.ac.uk/virtualtour Bedford Square and Senate House M25 M4 London 15 Windsor Heathrow Reading Egham ROYAL HOLLOWAY A30 Richmond 13 Twickenham Staines Hampton Court 12 M3 M25 Connect with us now For more information Search: Royal Holloway, University of London Please contact +44 (0)1784 414944 instagram.com/royalholloway study@royalholloway.ac.uk Search: Royal Holloway Further information is also available at royalholloway.ac.uk/postgraduate @RoyalHolloway youtube.com/royalhollowayuni Welcome Welcome to the Royal Holloway, University of London postgraduate prospectus I’m delighted that you are considering advanced study with us, one of the UK’s leading research-intensive universities By choosing Royal Holloway you will join a closeknit community where you will have direct contact with academics considered to be world leading or internationally-recognised in fields within science, arts, management, economics and law Through the dedication of our teachers, discoveries that change the world, and the feel of the Royal Holloway experience, ours is an environment that will inspire you to succeed academically, socially and personally I believe that the purpose of universities like Royal Holloway is two-fold First, through innovative research, to advance knowledge that will have a positive impact on our world Second, to share that knowledge in ways that inspire you to achieve your potential so that you, as an individual, can make a similar impact, in whatever way is meaningful for you It is this sense of purpose, this clarity around what we and why we it, that gives us the confidence to challenge ourselves within our academic disciplines and seek answers to the question ‘why?’ It is also why we can support you to the same within your own area of interest There’s a well-known saying: ‘The two most important days of your life are the day you were born and the day you find out why.’ Contents Why Royal Holloway? Our research profile Our history 6-7 What is postgraduate study? 8-9 PhD and research programmes 10-11 Our London campus 12-13 Faculty highlights 16-17 Departments and courses 18–71 Academic department contacts list 72-74 Campus life 76-77 Local area 78-79 Study environment 80-81 Academic support 82-83 Accommodation 84-85 Supporting you 86 Your future career 87 Working while you study 88 How much does it cost? 89 Funding your studies 90-91 How to apply 92-93 Our global alumni community 94 Terms and conditions 95 You may have found your ‘why’, hence you are considering postgraduate study at Royal Holloway You may still be searching for your ‘why’, and are looking for postgraduate study to help you Wherever you are on your journey, our academics and the whole of the Royal Holloway community will be here to inspire your success I hope that I will welcome you to Royal Holloway in September 2018 Professor Paul Layzell BA (Econ), MSc, PhD, FBCS, CEng, FHEA Principal, Royal Holloway, University of London Why Royal Holloway? There are many reasons to choose Royal Holloway for postgraduate study Here are just a few of the highlights Expert teaching You’ll learn from teachers who are experts in their field Share in their subject knowledge and enthusiasm Research-led Study at one of the UK’s leading researchintensive universities Our academic staff work at the frontiers of their subjects on original research of national and international importance University of London degree Global community Study for a qualification recognised the world over, leading to first-rate career opportunities We’re ranked 11th in the UK for international outlook in the 2017-18 Times Higher World Rankings, and our academics and students come from all over the world This makes for an international view and a vibrant campus Worldwide collaborations Benefit from our successful partnerships and sponsorship from governments, industry and commerce around the world royalholloway.ac.uk Study environment We offer high quality facilities and inspiring buildings, on and near our beautiful 135-acre parkland campus, with the added benefit of a central London base Our research profile “I love my subject because there’s this fascinating blend of mathematics, computer science, real world engineering, human psychology, and it’s that big melting pot that gets me really excited Being at the cutting-edge of the field means that you can give that extra level of interest to students and make the whole experience something really memorable.” Professor Kenny Paterson, Professor of Information Security IN THE TOP 81% OF OUR SEVEN OF OUR WORLD 10 OF UK UNIVERSITIES FOR RESEARCH OF 4* AND 3* STANDARD LEADING OR INTERNATIONALLY EXCELLENT OUTPERFORMING THE NATIONAL AVERAGE DEPARTMENTS RANK IN THE TOP 25 % RESEARCH IS FOR 4* AND 3* RESEARCH Research and teaching excellence National Research Assessment Exercise We are acknowledged worldwide for pioneering work across all sectors of the arts, humanities and sciences We continue to invest in first-class academic staff and facilities, with innovative partnerships in Higher Education, Government and industry in the UK and abroad The research-led nature of our postgraduate programmes offers exciting intellectual challenges Our position as one of the UK’s leading research intensive institutions is confirmed by the results of the last Research Excellence Framework (REF 2014) Its scoring system measures research quality in four categories, with the top score of 4* indicating quality that is world-leading and of the highest standards in terms of originality, significance and rigour Source: REF, 2014 royalholloway.ac.uk/research Our history Royal Holloway and Bedford Colleges combine over 150 years of historic discoveries, notable alumni and academic innovation Here are some of the milestones along the way royalholloway.ac.uk/timeline 11849 18 B Bedford College is founded by E Elizabeth Jesser Reid as the UK’s first h higher education college for women 11886 E Early students include the novelist George Eliot, famed for Middlemarch, and the first woman doctor Dr Elizabeth Blackwell, who trained nurses in the American Civil War Royal Holloway College is o opened by HM Queen Victoria 1894 S Students include the suffragette martyr E Emily Wilding Davison, who died at the E Epsom Derby in 1913, the pioneering woman ssurgeon, Dr Louisa Martindale CBE, and h her sister, Hilda Martindale CBE, who aargued for equal pay and rights for women 1860 Sarah Parker Remond, the slavery abolitionist and early African American female physician, is a student 1900 1912 Both Bedford and Royal Holloway Colleges are admitted as Schools of the University of London Margaret Benson becomes Professor of Botany at Royal Holloway College, the first female science professor in the country 1914 Richmal Crompton, the author of the Just William books, is a student as is Ethel Watts, the first woman to qualify as a chartered accountant 1942 Eunice Timberlake, Geography lecturer at Bedford College, develops new techniques in air navigation to aid air rescue after attack attacks on Atlantic convoys 1922 1944 Students include Dame Kathleen Lonsdale DBE FRS, one of the first two women elected to the Royal Society and Sylvia Scaffardi, co-founder of the Council for Civil Liberties, now known as Liberty Sir William Hunter McCrea FRS becomes Head of Mathematics at Royal Holloway His discovery that the sun is composed mainly of hydrogen leads to the development of the Big Bang Theory 22017 O flagship new Our E Emily Wilding Davison B Building, containing o our Library and Student S Services Centre, opens 22003 C Community Action is founded to enable students to volunteer in the community 2015 Royal Holloway hosts The Great Charter Festival to celebrate the 800th anniversary of the sealing of Magna Carta 11998 T Information The S Security Group wins the Q Queen’s Anniversary P Prize for Higher and F Further Education 2013 Our Music department is awarded a prestigious Regius Professorship by HM The Queen to mark her Diamond Jubilee 1995 Professor Euan Nisbet begins monitoring the rising levels of atmospheric methane, a highly potent but neglected greenhouse gas 1985 Royal Holloway and Bedford New College opens following the merger of the two colleges HM Queen Elizabeth II inaugurates the new College tthee following o ow year 2010 2012 Comedian and actor Sir Lenny Henry CBE gains an MA in Screenwriting Renowned alumnae sopranos Dame Felicity Lott, Susan Bullock and Sarah Fox perform at College to mark our Silver Jubilee We are the Olympic Village for Rowing, and our graduate Sophie Christiansen O OBE wins three P Paralympic Gold M Medals Our particle p physicists contribute to the discovery of the H Higgs Boson particle 1977 Baroness Catherine Ashton, who will become the EU’s first ever foreign minister, graduates in Social Science 1982 Students include Emma Freud OBE, now Director of Red Nose Day and Dr Simon Thurley CBE, future CEO of English Heritage and Jayne-Anne Gadhia, CEO of Virgin Money 1969 Professor Samuel Tolansky receives samples of moon dustt from NASA, brought back by Apollo XI, for his diamond research at Royal Holloway 11965 96 Both colleges become fully co-educational 1966 Students include Baroness Diana Warwick, former Chair of the Human Tissue Authority and Baroness Jean McFarlane, one of nursing’s great pioneers and England’s first Professor of Nursing What is postgraduate study? Postgraduate Degrees Masters (taught programmes) Masters by Research Postgraduate Certificate or Diploma Graduate Diploma Taught programmes As the name suggests, taught programmes include a set amount of contact time with a tutor They vary greatly in terms of content Many are closely linked to research specialisms – from Petroleum Geoscience in Earth Sciences to Shakespeare in English Others offer research in a particular discipline, for example the MMus in Advanced Musical Studies Topics cannot always be confined within departmental boundaries, so taught programmes offer an ideal opportunity for interdisciplinary work Some taught programmes integrate university study with professional, commercial or industrial applications, such as the MSc in Information Security or the MBA in International Management Masters by Research This involves writing an extended dissertation of up to 40,000 words It should demonstrate your ability to design and carry out an independent research project You’re expected to apply your knowledge of the subject or discipline to a research problem, question or hypothesis; to provide a critical discussion of relevant major theories, debates and concepts; to undertake a clear analysis of the results of the project; and to show informed and critical use of theories and concepts to interrogate these results Some programmes also include a taught component which must be passed The Masters by Research provides a good preparation for study at PhD level Postgraduate Diplomas and Certificates We award Postgraduate Diplomas to students who complete all of their taught units, but decide not to complete a dissertation A limited number of departments offer Postgraduate Diplomas as awards in their own right Upon successful completion of a Postgraduate Diploma, you may be able to progress to a Masters programme by completing a dissertation A Postgraduate Certificate is an exit award for students who complete some, but not all, of the taught course units, and also not complete a dissertation Graduate Diplomas A Graduate Diploma is usually thought of as a conversion course for graduates of different disciplines or for those with non-standard qualifications, but they are also qualifications in their own right If you successfully complete a Diploma, you may be able to go on to study for a taught Masters or a Masters by Research Please see our website for details of which departments offer this qualification Egham puts us in a good place to access companies with whom we have strong links, plus take advantage of the wider environment of opportunity: there are 50,000 business based in Surrey, 300 of them premier blue-chip multinationals You will need to source the placement, with support from the university Duration of study Teaching and assessment Most Masters degrees can be taken over one year full-time or between two and five years part-time For full-time students, degrees can be extended if the course includes a year in industry option (see individual department pages for where this is offered) Our Social Work Masters is unusual – it takes place full-time over two academic years Postgraduate Diplomas usually take nine months full-time or 21 months part-time Teaching methods for postgraduate taught degrees and diplomas are as varied as the programmes themselves Significant emphasis is placed on private study and assessed work Full-time students might only be required to attend two or three timetabled sessions per week A few courses take place at our central London home rather than on the main campus Please see page 12 for more information Assessment is also varied Some degrees and diplomas have a mixture of coursework and unseen examinations, while others rely solely on assessed coursework such as a portfolio of essays A dissertation or project based on independent research is a feature of most Masters degrees Please refer to each department’s pages for full details on duration of individual courses Years in business or industry Some of our Masters level courses offer an option of taking a year in business or industry Our location in Postgraduate research Research degrees Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) A research project carried out at the frontiers of knowledge in one or more disciplines with a thesis that makes an original contribution to knowledge Professional Doctorate Includes a substantial taught component and a dissertation/project which is usually linked to current professional practice Master of Philosophy (MPhil) A thesis that is usually a record of original work or an ordered and critical exposition of existing knowledge We also offer Masters by Research programmes which involve writing a shorter dissertation (see page for further information) Supervision Research is directed by one or more supervisors but the final outcome depends entirely on the individual student You’ll get regular progress reviews, an oral and written upgrade exam and a major annual review for which you’ll usually prepare a written submission The purpose of the annual review is to monitor progress, set new objectives and identify training requirements Our Researcher Development Programme (RDP) is a series of short courses to help research students develop broader, transferable skills alongside their research, such as training in ethics and data management, and presentation and communication skills Assessment Research students produce a thesis and undergo an accompanying oral viva voce examination with two expert examiners working in the relevant field of study The length of thesis varies by discipline, but the maximum is 100,000 words for the PhD and 60,000 words for the MPhil Professional Doctorate theses usually have a maximum of 50,000 words but are also assessed by taught units which must be passed before the thesis is completed 10 Dr Elli Leadbeater, Reader in Molecular Ecology Duration of study MPhil degrees normally require a minimum of two years’ full-time study and PhD and Professional Doctorate degrees a minimum of three years In most cases, PhD students are registered initially for an MPhil with transfer to PhD status after an upgrade examination at the end of year or during year With advice from your supervisors, you are responsible for deciding when you should submit your thesis, but we and the Research Councils consider this should normally take three to four years (five to eight years if you are part-time), though some funders have different timescales and you will be told if this applies to you Academic support Your academic welfare Most postgraduates find their closest contact is with departmental advisors and supervisors The Code of Practice for the Academic Welfare of Postgraduate Research Students recognises that successful research depends on both the students’ and supervisors’ efforts, the research environment in the department, and research training The Code covers the responsibilities of the student, supervisor and advisor, and also outlines administrative and monitoring procedures Academic skills support while studying Whatever your postgraduate needs, the Centre for the Development of Academic Skills (CeDAS) is there to ensure that you can perform to the best of your ability Our friendly, professional team offers a range of useful services with you in mind: • 1-to-1 tutorials and drop-ins for academic writing • Bookable workshops and lectures on key academic skills • Maths, stats and numeracy advice • Academic English courses (for non-native speakers only) • Tailored sessions embedded within your academic courses 82 English Language support available ahead of your study If English isn’t your first language, Royal Holloway offers two programmes to help you adjust to studying in an unfamiliar academic setting Pre-Masters Diploma This programme provides thorough academic and English language preparation for international students who want to study at postgraduate level in the UK It is taught over three terms of an academic year starting in late September Applicants are required to have a standard of English at least equivalent to an IELTS score of 5.5 (with no sub-score below 5.5) Pre-sessional English Language Programme Open to all non-native English-speaking postgraduates whose IELTS scores fall just below the level of English required for study, the programme begins prior to the start of the academic year and lasts for 12, eight or four weeks “As an international student, CeDAS has been so beneficial to my studies The classes are free of charge, so I could join as many different classes as possible to really polish my academic skills The good thing is CeDAS is not just limited to international students Plus there are lots of different areas of support to help people with different needs.” Jharna Adwani, MSc Entrepreneurship royalholloway.ac.uk/academicskills 83 Accommodation Living on campus All full-time postgraduates are welcome to apply to spend their first year living in Royal Holloway halls of residence, some of which are exclusively for postgraduates We consider all applications, although international students are prioritised You’ll need to apply for accommodation by the deadlines published on our website, and if you want to remain in halls after your first year, you’ll need to reapply Our halls of residence We offer a wide range of accommodation for postgraduate students in our halls, from shared flats to townhouses and all are comfortable and good value for money Our newest hall housing postgraduate students, named after notable alumna George Eliot, opened in September 2017 Students enjoy large shared living rooms and kitchens in modern townhouses You can find out more about our halls, let lengths and our current prices on our website Adapted accommodation Many of our halls include adapted rooms that are suitable for students with disabilities Full-time carers can be housed in a room adjacent to the student’s room If you’re interested in an adapted room, you should contact the Disability and Dyslexia Services team for advice before submitting your application for accommodation “I loved the community that developed in my hall, I met people from all around the UK and the world My best advice: bring a cake, it’s a delicious way to introduce yourself.” James Griffen, MA History 84 “I was slightly worried before starting my course about how living at home would impact my student experience, but I soon found that I had no reason to be Probably about half the people on my course were living outside Egham or at home, and I found that volunteering on campus was a great way to get involved and meet fellow students.” Michaela Jones, MA History Couples and family housing We have a small amount of accommodation available for international postgraduates who would like to live with their partner and/or children while studying The availability of this accommodation varies from year to year, so please contact us for current information Living off campus Some postgraduate students choose to live near campus in private sector accommodation available in the local area, from Englefield Green, Egham and Staines to Virginia Water, Ashford and Windsor You’ll need to consider the requirements of your study programme and the commute, but help is at hand to establish where you choose to settle The Students’ Union runs HouseSearch, where you can find properties in the local area Visit housesearch.rhul.ac.uk/Accommodation Living in London If your degree programme or research involves work in London you may prefer to live in the capital Royal Holloway has some rooms for postgraduates in Intercollegiate Halls of Residence in central London, which are issued on a first-come first-served basis The University of London Housing Services Office offers assistance to those looking for accommodation in London Further information can be found at housing.lon.ac.uk royalholloway.ac.uk/accommodation 85 Supporting you “The Disability & Dyslexia Service at Royal Holloway is welcoming and efficient From finding a scribe that could write in Ancient Greek to arranging assistance on study trips, their constant support enabled me to get the best out of my first degree so I could embark on a Masters degree with the confidence that they would be there for me.” Clara Scholes, MRes Rhetoric We are renowned for our friendly and caring community and have dedicated advisory and wellbeing services to help you get the most out of your time here Personal Support Student counselling: our professionally accredited service offers personal, emotional and psychological support in a confidential, non-judgmental and friendly setting We help with a range of issues including stress, anxiety, cultural issues, relationships, sexuality, alcohol and drugs Coaching sessions can also be arranged Disability and dyslexia services We can provide note-takers, personal helpers and academic advisors to support students with disabilities or dyslexia, as well as information on funding We’re here to advise on reasonable adjustments that can be made to ensure accessibility to services (including student accommodation) and academic courses If you think you may need any provisions like this, we recommend you seek advice from us before enrolment so that they can be organised well in advance Multi-faith Chaplaincy Student wellbeing: providing advice and guidance for all students to support a balanced lifestyle and positive personal wellbeing Acts as a triage point to other support services We are a multi-faith community with many different beliefs represented on campus and excellent cooperation between faiths Our three Chaplains (Anglican, Roman Catholic and Muslim) form part of our student support The Chaplaincy team is available to everyone regardless of faith or belief On campus we have a beautiful ecumenical Chapel and a Muslim Prayer Room The Chaplaincy team or the Students’ Union can provide information about student-led faith societies and support and provision for faith and worship Financial welfare: including advice on budgeting and loans Students’ Union support International student support: advice on living in the UK for international students, including immigration and visa advice The SU has Student Support Advisors available to provide housing and academic information and advice to students On-campus NHS-managed health centre (Clarence Medical Centre): for students living in halls or in the local area Halls Life team: promoting a happy hall environment for students living in Royal Holloway accommodation by organising social events 86 royalholloway.ac.uk/welfareandsupport Your future career “The personalised advice and support I received from the Careers & Employability team was invaluable; I was given so many resources to help me think about my options after university The practice interviews I did really helped me kickstart my career!” Bhavini Tailor, MRes Rhetoric Award-winning careers service Our award-winning Careers & Employability Service is part of The Careers Group, University of London – the largest and most comprehensive careers service in Europe Located right in the heart of campus in our new Emily Wilding Davison Building, our friendly and experienced staff offer tailored support to help you boost your employability and prepare you for your career ahead Our postgraduates are highly employable and pursue careers in many fields from corporate law to teaching, marketing to environmental conservation As postgraduate study is often undertaken for career benefit, our team will work with you to enhance your employability and prepare you for your future If you’re not on campus you can get advice from our team on the phone, via email, from one of our many online services or take advantage of one of our Facebook live chats Hundreds of alumni and employers visit our campus every year to speak about career opportunities and to offer career coaching and top tips With previous employers including PwC, the Civil Service, BBC, Deloitte and many others, these visits are an invaluable opportunity for you to network with potential future employers and get ahead of the crowd royalholloway.ac.uk/careers 87 Working while you study “I worked as a Student Ambassador, and even managed to get a promotion! It was very easy to fit work around my studies and I developed my time management skills It was also good fun and I met some great people I was able to develop my communication and people skills and learn to respond quickly to difficult situations.” Zosia Edwards, MA Medieval Studies Employment opportunities There are many opportunities for work on campus and in the local area Full-time students can work up to 20 hours a week during term-time and international students are able to work up to 20 hours a week in term-time and full-time during vacations* Our Careers & Employability Service runs a range of fairs throughout the academic year, including two part-time jobs fairs The fairs are great places to meet employers, find out about job opportunities and get a job that fits in with your studies There are also lots of opportunities to work with one of Surrey’s 50,000 businesses (the campus is within 10 miles of multinational companies such as Toyota, Nestle, Samsung, Pfizer, BA, Unilever, Proctor & Gamble, amongst 300 others, and is a 40-minute train ride from central London) 88 royalholloway.ac.uk/careers Alternatively, if you would like something even closer to home, there are over 1,000 employment opportunities on campus every year A variety of roles exist from Student Ambassador to Careers Assistant and the Students’ Union alone employs more than 250 students in a range of roles from bar and catering through to graphic designers and social media coordinators There’s also the opportunity for PhD students to take on some teaching responsibility, supported by a skills training programme Whatever you do, you have the chance to earn money as well as develop a multitude of skills that you can add to your CV *UKVI regulations How much does it cost? It’s wise to be aware of the cost of studying at postgraduate level before applying – from tuition fees to living expenses Here’s a brief overview Tuition fees Living expenses These cover all academic-related costs from teaching and supervision, plus use of library and IT facilities, to assessments (excluding resit, repeat and deferred examinations or assessments) and administration Information on the fee for your particular programme will be included with your offer letter Living costs during your time with us as a postgraduate study will vary, depending on your individual needs and lifestyle We estimate you should think in terms of a range from £10,000-£12,000 for a single person on campus per year to cover accommodation, food, personal expenses, study-related costs, and some limited travelling International students will also need to take account of various settling-in expenses, including arrangements for travel to and within the UK, visas and travel and health insurance For up-to-date information of our current tuition fees for all postgraduate students, please visit the postgraduate section of our website Any additional costs relating to the course you choose to study can be found via our Course Finder at royalholloway.ac.uk/courses royalholloway.ac.uk/postgraduate 89 Funding your studies There are many potential sources of funding for your postgraduate studies, and it’s sensible to be organised Most funding agencies and bodies operate strict deadlines and there is a lot of competition The majority of postgraduate students don’t gain funding to cover both tuition fees and living expenses, so it’s important to think about how you’ll support your studies A good starting point is to visit our website to get advice on sources of funding and how to apply 10 % OFF TUITION FEES FOR ROYAL HOLLOWAY GRADUATES Potential sources of funding • Postgraduate Student Loan • Scholarships • Bursaries • Departmental Assistantships • Professional and Career Development Loans • Employer sponsorship • Working alongside your study • Discount for Royal Holloway alumni Opportunities provided by Royal Holloway We directly support a number of our taught postgraduate students to differing levels through a variety of scholarships and bursaries, usually awarded for academic success, or excellence in sport or music Some cover tuition fees while others make a contribution towards the cost of study Some academic departments can provide access to other awards on offer or can advise on industry-specific funding opportunities (for instance in Psychology) If you’re a Royal Holloway graduate, you can take advantage of an automatic discount on your tuition fees, currently 10% off (*please check our website for the latest level of benefit) 90 * “After completing an undergraduate degree in English and Classical Studies, I was very happy to learn I was the recipient of the David Cesarani, Kobler Scholarship, one of the scholarships offered within the Holocaust Research Institute at Royal Holloway The scholarship provides financial support for my Masters degree in Holocaust Studies, allowing me to explore a new area of research in a subject I am passionate about.” Niamh Hanrahan, MA Holocaust Studies Opportunities for international students Financial support is available from a wide range of sources, for instance: • Commonwealth Scholarships • Fulbright-Royal Holloway Award • US International Foundation Scholarships • Manju Mehrotra Scholarship • Global Community Award • Santander International Excellence Scholarship Details of these scholarships, qualifying requirements and deadlines for application are provided on our website Research Councils Predominantly supporting postgraduate research degrees (PhDs) the Research Councils offer scholarships covering fees and/ or maintenance For more information contact rcuk.ac.uk • Arts and Humanities Research Council (AHRC) • Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC) • Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC) • Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) • Medical Research Council (MRC) • Natural Environmental Research Council (NERC) • Science and Technology Facilities Council (STFC) If you’re not sure which Research Council is likely to offer funding for your subject area please contact the Director of Graduate Studies from your chosen department For more information For further detail on funding opportunities for taught postgraduate students see royalholloway.ac.uk/pgtaughtfunding If you’re interested in funding opportunities for research degrees (PhDs) see royalholloway.ac.uk/pgresearchfunding 91 How to apply To help you get organised with making your application, please use our handy guide below Before you apply I Find out everything you can about the programme you’d like to join You may find it helpful to consult: • our website • Education Support Office for advice if you have any special requirements • Director of Graduate Studies or Programme Director in your chosen department • university staff visiting British Council events or recruitment fairs overseas • our Admissions and Applicant Services team • a potential research supervisor When to apply We don’t have a formal application deadline for postgraduate study, however, as all programmes begin in September, we strongly advise you to apply as soon as possible, especially if you require a student visa If you want to apply for financial support from Royal Holloway or an external funding body, please make sure you know when these deadlines are, as they can differ Apply online Register and set up your Applicant Portal for our online application system, Royal Holloway Direct, at royalholloway.ac.uk/pgapplication This easy system allows you to upload all your relevant documents along with your application and you can return to your application as many times as you need before submitting it You’ll need to upload: • one confidential reference, either uploaded by you or directly by your referee • a copy of your degree certificate and a transcript of your degree study so far • a copy of your passport photo page and, if you require a Tier student visa, copies of previous UK study visas • any written or portfolio work required by your department 92 Your offer If we’re able to make you an offer we will communicate details of this in an offer letter by email, making clear any conditions that may apply (for example achieving a certain qualification) Some of our programmes are popular and require a deposit to be paid to accept your place; again we’ll let you know if this is the case Before you can join us, you must have met Royal Holloway’s general entrance requirements plus any specific additional requirements set by the department must be met before you commence your course All qualifications required as part of your offer will be verified before entry Decision You may be invited to an interview by your department before we make a decision, otherwise we consider the information supplied in your application, plus your references and any relevant supporting materials Check the status of your application Once you’ve submitted your application and been given your student ID number, you can track its status at any point Log in to your Royal Holloway Direct Applicant Portal - you will be sent a direct link You should expect a decision from us within four to six weeks Entry requirements We usually ask for a UK Second Class Honours degree and in some cases additional professional experience We also accept applications from applicants with non-standard qualifications, or in an area different to the one you are applying for Please see our website for entry requirements royalholloway.ac.uk/postgraduate We recommend you speak to the Admissions and Applicant Service team or the department’s Director of Graduate Studies for advice royalholloway.ac.uk/postgraduate 93 Our global alumni community +ALUMNI IN 86,000 Continuing opportunities and benefits By joining Royal Holloway you will become part of a family of over 9000 students, over 1500 expert staff and over 87,000 alumni working in every field imaginable across the globe This community is invaluable for your future success Fellow students and staff are there to support you during your studies and graduates are a valuable network to help you forge ahead in your career, when the time comes By being part of our lifelong, global network a number of opportunities and benefits will be available to you: 94 royalholloway.ac.uk/alumni 164 COUNTRIES • Access to careers support and resources for two years after graduating • College and alumni updates and news via our online magazine, e-newsletters and social media • Invitations to global events and reunions, including concerts and informative lectures • International alumni groups in many countries worldwide • Access to exclusive College and University of London services and discounts Terms and conditions of admission Royal Holloway’s Admissions Policy provides comprehensive details of all aspects of admission to Royal Holloway, University of London, and is available on our website This document provides you with all the important information you need about our admissions procedures and how your application will be considered You are advised to read through this document prior to submitting your application When you accept an offer of a place to study at Royal Holloway, a legal contract is formed between you and the university At the point of offer, we will provide you with the Terms and Conditions associated with your admission to Royal Holloway, including links to all relevant policy documents and your rights should you wish to withdraw acceptance of your offer We advise you to read these carefully before you accept your offer This prospectus was edited and produced by Royal Holloway’s Marketing and Communications team It was published in October 2017 and the information given was correct at that time It is intended primarily for those considering admission to Royal Holloway as postgraduate students in 2018 As described in our terms and conditions (found online), occasionally it may be necessary for the university to vary the content and delivery of programmes The university endeavours to keep such changes and disruption to a minimum, but there is a possibility that changes may occur before or after admission, and differ from what is printed in this prospectus We advise all applicants to refer to the website prior to making any application If you would like to give us any feedback on your experience as an applicant to Royal Holloway, or if you have any cause for complaint about the way your application was dealt with, details of who to contact are provided in our Admissions Policy document royalholloway.ac.uk/studyhere 95 The spectacular Founder’s Building (shown on the front cover) was opened by Queen Victoria in 1886 Largely inspired by the Château de Chambord in the Loire Valley, it is built around two quadrangles and includes a beautiful gilded Chapel and Picture Gallery Contact us 2017/18 Postgraduate Open Evenings Royal Holloway University of London Egham, Surrey TW20 0EX +44 (0)1784 414944 royalholloway.ac.uk Our upcoming Postgraduate Open Evenings and other events are listed at royalholloway.ac.uk/pgevents 7701 09/17